Women and Menswear

I note with interest that women have eyed three menswear staples and have adopted them with style. It would appear they are very much in vogue just now.

For sure, women are not shy about appropriating items traditionally associated with menswear to make them their own – it’s actually pretty commonplace – but the phenomenon has been really gaining ground with the boom in gender-neutral collections. 

Check out the three items that have become women's fashion must-haves. 

The suit – Blazers may have been initially intended for men, but they have since become been a day-to-day womenswear essential. 

Suits have also made the move. And not just pantsuits, but the classic, typically masculine three-piece suits that women are now wearing with the utmost elegance. 

This can partly be put down to the evolution of cuts, as suits have become more fitted over time, with a wider variety of color options and, above all, a multitude of variations that women have been quick to adopt. 

The tie – Like suits, neck ties – a men's accessory par excellence – have made a spectacular move into women's fashion. 

The phenomenon has been gaining momentum since the beginning of the year, with women taking to ties as men gave them up. Indeed, with the Covid-19 pandemic and WFH, many men have ditched their suits and ties in favor of more casual attire. 

Women, meanwhile, seem to have been moving in the opposite direction, wearing ties sometimes with a casual, gungy look – like baggy pants and shirt combo, an oversized tunic, or even shorts – or, on the other hand, with a three-piece suit for a sleek, androgynous look. 

Boyfriend jeans – This trend has been around for about a decade, it's hard to imagine anyone passing up the pleasure – or the comfort – of slipping into boyfriend (or boyfit) jeans. 

As the name suggests, these are very much like jeans you might borrow from your boyfriend, or any other male acquaintance. Worn low at the waist, they are optimally baggy with a slightly tapered leg. They can also be rolled up to get this effect. 

Boyfriend jeans have been so wholeheartedly appropriated, the menswear-inspired clothing item has progressively made its way into women's collections by many ready-to-wear brands.